Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Observations on the Funariaceae. 3. Entosthodon steerei, a New Species from the Ecuadorian Andes

Entosthodon steerei Fife, sp. nov., from the Ecuadorian Andes is characterized by an inclined, obovoid capsule with a nearly transverse mouth and a weakly differentiated neck, a unique spore ornamentation pattern, and strongly bordered leaves. Its affinities lie with species traditionally placed in the Plagiodus group of Funaria sensu Brotherus. While examining specimens of Funariaceae col- lected by W. C. Steere in the Ecuadorian Andes, I discovered an undescribed species of Entosthodon. This species has affinities with the species of En- tosthodon placed by Brotherus (1924) in Funaria sect. Plagiodus Mitt. Mitten's section Plagiodus de- serves subgeneric rank within a broadly defined ge- nus Entosthodon (Fife 1982). The Plagiodus group is characterized by usually unbordered leaves, asymmetric, inclined capsules with oblique mouths, double peristomes with sigmoid, apically free teeth, and usually baculate-insulate or insulate spores.